The Passage of Life

Prem Rawat

I talk about something very simple. These days, when you open up a newspaper or take a look at television, there are so many things one can talk about. Peace is an issue; hunger is an issue; poverty is an issue; social unrest is an issue. One would think I should be speaking about one of these topics.

But what I speak about is something you already know. It isn’t about the world; it’s about you. As a human being, what you are looking for is inside of you. This is who we are.

People say human beings are not born with instruction manuals. They are. But their instruction manuals are automatic because the instruction is: be content. It becomes obvious from childhood, and it stays there till the day you die. You do what you do to be happy. Whether you call it happiness or tranquility or peace doesn’t really matter. Call it anything you want, because it is not in the names. Names came later. That beauty came way before the name.

Prem Rawat

What is your truest and most sincere desire? I know. Do you know how I know? Not because some angel came and told me. Not because one day I was sleeping and somebody whispered it in my ear. I know because I feel the same desire. I, too,want to be in peace. That’s when it feels good to me. I want to be happy because that’s when it feels good to me.

What do you want? What do you want? You have heard everybody in your life make requests of you. What do you want—not just today—but what have you always wanted?

People want true love in their lives, and true love is inside of us. Experience it. Understand it. Live your life in simplicity because that’s who you are. Be conscious of every day that is given to you because that day is never, ever going to come back. That which you think is yours but can be taken away by someone else is not really yours. And there is one thing that is within you that no one can take away from you. That’s yours.

The passage of life can be very complicated. People say, “When it rains, we don’t want to get wet, so let us get rid of the clouds.” I say, “Carry an umbrella.” Sooner or later, it’s going to rain. And when it does, you’re going to get wet. If you don’t want to get wet, open your umbrella. You don’t have to get wet. It’s as simple as that. That’s your reality.

Prem Rawat, widely known as Maharaji

If you want to understand that reality, look within you. People think peace is the end of war. No, because another one will start. The peace that I am talking about can be experienced in the middle of the war. This peace is in the heart of every human being day and night. It is not a lack of something. It is a peace that is there for everyone—educated or non‑educated, rich or poor.

There is a light burning inside of you. Do you really think you were sent in this world with a lamp that was not lit? No. That would be incredibly cruel. There is a lamp lit. And when it gets dark, you don’t have to bump into things. Let there be light in your life, whoever you are.

— Prem Rawat